Coiler drum for metal strip



April 23, 1963 J. A. TRACY 3,086,727

COILER DRUM FOR METAL STRIP Filed July 29, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR United States Patent 3,636,727 COELER DRUM FGR METAL S John Andr Tracy, Talbot Woods, Bournemouth, England, assignor to The Loewy Engineering Company Limited, Bournemouth, England, a corporation of Great Britain Filed .luiy 29, 1958, Ser. No. 751,863 Claims priority, application Great Britain Juiy 31, 1957 9 (llairns. (ill. 242--72.1)

This invention relates to coiler drums for metal strip, such as are used, for example, in rolling mill installations for receiving strip material issuing from a rolling mill. Coiler drums for metal strip usually consist of a number of segments which are adapted to be moved in a radial direction, whereby the drums are expanded or collapsed. In one type of coiler drum to which the invention particularly relates, the entire periphery of the drum is composed of a number of such segments, with wedge-shaped spreader bars extending parallel to the axis of the coiler, and being interposed between adjacent segments which are formed at their longitudinal edges with inclined surfaces engaged by the spreader bars. The radial outward movement of the spreader bars results, therefore, in a radial outward movement of the segments, the return movement of the segments being efiected generally through the action of springs after withdrawal of the spreader bars.

The radial movement of the segments and of the spreader bars is usually effected by means of an actuating mechanism arranged in the centre of the drum and comprising longitudinally displaceable cam members in contact with cam surfaces on the insides of the spreader bars.

Coiler drums of the type to which the invention particularly relates are frequently equipped with means for securing the leading end of the strip to the drum before the beginning of a coiling operation. These means usually comprise a pair of co-acting jaws arranged at both sides of a slot in the drum which is entered by the leading end of the strip. The jaws are adapted to be moved towards each other by a mechanical actuator disposed inside the coiler drum, in order to ensure a firm grip on the leading end of the strip.

The known gripping devices of coiler drums for metal strip of the type described, the arrangement was such that one jaw was formed or mounted directly on a segment, while the other jaw was arranged on a separate part, movable relative to this segment and actuated by a separate mechanism. This arrangement had the drawback that the segment was considerably weakened because it had to accommodate, not only the two jaws, but the actuating mechanism for at least one of them.

With this arrangement, the jaws had to be positioned at or near the median radial plane of the segment, i.e., at some distance from the edge of the segment where the slot receiving the end of the strip terminated. Apart from the fact that the jaws, when in this position, were not easily accessible from the outside, the slot had to be made of considerable depth. This again had the drawback of increasing the length of strip which entered the slot and in doing so was bent. The longer the bent portion of the strip, the more difficult it became to enter the coil formed from the strip onto the drums of a decoder. Moreover, the bent portion had to be cut oflf sooner or later during further processing of the strip, and the longer this portion, the greater the wastage.

Furthermore, the increased depth of the slot and the arrangement of the jaws at some distance from the drum periphery made it necessary to increase the width of the slot at or near the periphery, giving the mouth of the slot an outwardly flaring shape; the wider the gap at the drum periphery formed by the slot, the greater the risk that the ice innermost lap or laps of the coiled strip will collapse into this gap under radial pressure. The inside of the coil will then become non-circular and the further handling of the coil will become difficult, in particular, the placing of the coil in position on a decoiler.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a coiler drum for metal strip of the type comprising a plurality of radially movable segments with wedge-shaped spreader bars interposed between adjacent segments and having a gripping device for the leading end of the strip comprising two cooperating jaws arranged at either side of a slot, which is free from the above-mentioned disadvantages and which is of simple design.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a coiler drum for metal strip of the type described, in which the gripper jaws are arranged in proximity to the periphery of the coiler drum.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a coiler drum for metal strip of the type described, in which the gripper jaws close simultaneously with the expanding of the coiler drum and open simultaneously with the collapse of the coiler drum.

Broadly, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a coiler drum having a plurality of radially movable segments and wedge-shaped spreader bars interposed between and engaging with adjacent segments, in which a first gripper jaw is formed or mounted directly on one of the spreader bars, and a second jaw is formed or mounted on one of the segments contacted by said spreader bar.

With this arrangement, no separate actuating mechanism for the gripping device is required, as the closure of the gripper jaws is efiected by the outward movement of the spreader bar; conversely, opening of the gripper jaws is effected by the withdrawal of the spreader bar. There is, therefore, no need to provide a special actuator for the gripping mechanism, whereby the design of the drum is greatly simplified, and any weakening of the segment avoided.

The two jaws may be positioned close to the periphery of the drum, whereby the entry slot for the leading end of the strip can be considerably shortened and made narrower when the drum is expanded.

According to a further feature of the invention, one of said jaws is formed with at least one outwardly pro jecting deforming member and the other of said jaws is provided with a recessed deforming member complementary to said outwardly projecting member, said members being out of registry when the jaws arein their open position, and in which radial movement of the spreader bars closes said jaws and slides the members into registry for the purpose of deforming the end of strip material to be colied by said drum.

Due to one of the jaws being arranged on a segment of the coiler drum and the other jaw on a spreader bar acting on this segment, both jaws will move in different radial directions upon the spreader bar being radially advanced or withdrawn for the expansion or collapse of the drum respectively. The jaws will therefore not only move towards, but also parallel to each other.

The parallel movement of the jaws may be utilised in the coiler drum according to the invention for the gradual deformation of the end of the strip held between the jaws for the purpose of anchoring the strip firmly to the drum. This deformation can be achieved by forming one of the jaws with a rib protruding into the slot, while the other jaw is formed with a groove or recess corresponding in cross-section to the rib, the rib and the groove being out of registry when the jaws are open. The closing movement of the jaws displaces the rib and the groove relative to each other in a direction parallel J; to the depth of the slot, so that at the end of this movement the rib and the groove are in registry, with the rib entering the groove. A strip inserted into the slot will then, during this movement, be gradually deformed by the rib, which causes the strip to be dented and 9 finally depressed into the groove, whereby the strip is firmly anchored to the gripping device.

"It has already been proposed to deform the end of a strip inserted into the slot of a coiler drum by means of projections protruding into the slot. However, in

these-cases, the jaws arranged on either side of the slot =were notcapable of movementparallel to each other,

and the deformation of the strip did not progress gradually in the same manner as in the case of the present invention.

For a better understanding of the nature of the invention-and to show how it may be carried into ef- --fect, the same will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE '1 is a schematic view in radial section of a' collar drum constructed in accordance with the'presa entinvention,

FIGURES 2 to 5 inclusive are sectional views to a larger scale of part of the coiler drum illustrated in FIG- URE 1, showing the various stages of operation there- FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of part of modified form .-of coiler drum, and

FIGURE 7 is a View of a still further embodiment of the coiler drum according to the invention, a part of said drum being shown in cross-section.

The coiler drum shown in FIGURE 1 comprises a rotatable mandrel 2 constituted by a number of segments '4 which are movable relative to the core part 6 of the mandrel whereby the drum is expanded or collapsed. Expansion of the segments 4 is effected by wedge-shaped spreader bars 8 which extend parallel to the. axis of the drum, and which are inter-posed between adjacent segments 4, the segments being formed 'at t-heir-longitudinal'edges with bearing surfaces engaged by inclined lateral portions 1d of the spreader bars 8. Each spreader bar 8 has an end face which, when "the coiler drum is expanded, forms a part of the coiler drum circumference.

The radial outward movement of the spreaderbars results, therefore, in a radial outward movement of the segments 4. The return movement a of the segments'is efiected through the action of springs "12 after withdrawal of the'spreader bars.

Theradialmovement of segments 4- and of the spreader bars 8 may be effected by an actuating mechanism disposed in the core part 6 and comprising a longitudinally displaceable actuating rod 13 and cam members 13a actuated byithe rod 13 to move in contact with associated bearing surfaces 13b on the insides of'the spreader bars 8 to move'the spreader bars outwardly similar to that described in my copending application Serial No. 563,- l31-filed February 2, 1956 (now Patent No. 2,936,132). 'Since the illustration of .thecoilerdrurn is purely schematic and-such actuating mechanism 'is fully described -in-said patent, only the principal operating parts are shown-in the drawings.

.For t-he purpose ofsecuring the leading end of strip material to the drum before-the beginning of a coiling operation, a gripping action is efiected by operation of one of the spreader bars generally designated by the reference numeral 8A. This spreader bar is arranged so that 1 open position; law 1 isformed with a groove or recess 22 corresponding in cross-section to the rib 18, the

jaws are open. and the groove may be reversed.

of the gripper jaws is effected by withdrawal of the spreader bar 8A during retraction of the drum. The operation and construction of the gripper jaws 14, 16 is described in greater detail hereafter.

Due to the gripper jaws 14, 16 being arranged respectively on the spreader bar 8A and the segment 4 acted on by said bar, bot-h jaws will move in different radial directions upon the spreader bar 8A being radially advanced or withdrawn for the expansion or collapse of the drum. The jaws 14, 16 will therefore not only move towards, but also parallel to each other.

The parallel movement of the jaws 14,16 .is utilised in the coiler drum according to the invention for the gradual deformation of the end of a strip held between the jaws for the purpose or" anchoring the strip firmly to the drum. Thisdeformation is achieved by forming the -.jaw 16 with a rib'18 of triangular cross-section which protrudes into the strip entry slot 20 (FIGURE .2)

forrnedbetween the jaws when the latter are in their rib 18 and the groove 22 being out of registry when the If desired, the positions of the rib 18 In operation, when the drum is in its contracted condition (FIGURE 2), the end of the strip'24 to be wound is inserted in the slot 2% so as to lie between the jaws 14,

16. The actuating mechanism controlling the spreader bars 8 is then operated whereby the'latter are "moved radially outwardly to expand the drum in the normal manner and effect closing of the jaws 14,16. The closing movement of the jaws displaces the rib 13 and the groove 22 relative to each other in a direction parallel to the depth of the slot 20. The strip 24 inserted into the slot 29 will, during the aforementioned movement, be

. first engaged by the apex 28 of the rib 18 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3. Thereafter the strip 24 is gradually deformed by the rib 18 which causes it to be dented-as shown in FIGURE 4. At the end of the parallel movement of the jaws, 'the rib and the groove are in registry, with the rib entering the groove as shown in 1 FIGURE 5. The strip is thereby finally depressed into the groove 22 and firmly anchored to the drum. The

deformation imparted to the strip alone will be in most cases sufiicient to anchor the strip so that there need not i be any actual clamping action between the jaws 14, 16

and the strip.

The cross-section ofthe groove'22 need not necessarily betriangular as previously described and may be of rec- It is preferred, however, that the rib 1S spective of the configuration of the groove since the pointed apex 28 has been found highly eifective in deforming the strip 24 within the opening of the groove 22. It will be understood that the strip need not necessarily wholly fill the space of the groove upon its deformation and it is for this reason that the shape thereof does not have to be similar.

It is nevertheless important that the lateral edges of the groove 22 be well defined since it is these edges coupled with the action of the rib apex 28 that effect the 7 main deformation of the strip.

'If desired, a series of ribs and grooves can be provided 7 in place of the single rib 18 and groove 22 previously described. As a further alternative, the 'projectionsmay consistof a number of studs operating with holes in the other jaw. The studs may have pointed ends.

In the example: ofthe invention shown inFIGURE 6,

' a spreader bar 32 is provided with a recessed end portion '36 of the spring 34 is provided with a groove 38 adapted to engage a complementary rib 40 in a similar manner .to

that described heretofore. The particular example illustrated shows the groove 38 and rib 49 in their inter-acting positions. The arrangement of the spring arm 36 is such that this can yield during the deformation of the strip whereby a greater range of strip thickness can be accommodated effectively within slot 41.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a modification of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 6. A number of studs or ribs 42 of triangular section are arranged on jaw 44, each stud or rib being adapted to co-operate with a correspondingly shaped recess 46 formed in the end of spring loaded plunger 48. As in the case of the previous example, the plunger can yield during deformation of the strip so that a greater range of strip thicknesses can be accommodated within slot 56.

In each of the foregoing examples the inner end of the strip entry slot remains closed by means of the sliding fit between the spreader bar and its associated segment irrespective of the condition of the drum. This has the advantage of precluding at all times the entry into the interior of the drum of any swarf or larger pieces of metal which may become detached from the strip.

What is claimed is:

1. In a drum adapted to be used for coiling strip and having a plurality of externally arcuate radially movable segments provided with inner fiat surfaces, a plurality of spreader bars each provided with inclined bearing surfaces engaging said inner fiat surfaces, and an actuating rod and cam members for radially moving said spreader bars along radial planes inclined relative to the radial planes of movement of said segments to thereby move the latter; means for securing the leading end of the strip to said drum and comprising a first gripper jaw provided on one of said spreader bars and a second gripper jaw provided on one of the segments engaged by said one spreader bar, both said gripper jaws being provided with parallel spaced faces inclined relative to the inner flat surface of said last mentioned segment, said gripper jaws moving towards each other in a direction inclined to the faces thereof while maintaining said faces parallel to each other when said segments are moved outwardly, and cooperating to form a slot within which said leading end of the strip is adapted to be gripped, said spreader bars contacting the inner flat surfaces of said segments at all times during the spreading and gripping action.

2. In a drum adapted to be used for coiling strip and having a plurality of externally arcuate radially movable segments provided with inner flat surfaces, a plurality of spreader bars each provided with an end face and with inclined bearing surfaces engaging said inner flat surfaces and means for radially moving said spreader bars along radial planes which are inclined relative to the radial planes of movement of said segments to thereby move the latter; means for securing the leading end of the strip to said drum and comprising a first gripper jaw provided on the end face of one of said spreader bars and a second gripper jaw provided on the inner flat surface of one of the segments which is engaged by said one spreader bar, both said gripper jaws being provided with parallel spaced faces inclined relative to the inner flat surface of said one segment, said gripper jaws moving towards each other in a direction inclined to the faces thereof while maintaining said faces parallel to each other when said segments are moved outwardly, and cooperating to form a slot within which said leading end of the strip is adapted to be gripped, said spreader bars contacting the inner fiat surfaces of said segments at all times during the spreading and gripping action.

3. A drum adapted to be used for coiling strip and having a plurality of externally arcuate radially movable segments provided with inner fiat surfaces, a plurality of spreader bars each provided with inclined bearing surfaces engaging said inner fiat surfaces and with an end face, and an actuating mechanism, comprising rod and cam members for radially moving said spreader bars along radial planes inclined relative to the radial planes of movement of said segments to thereby move the latter,

and means for securing the leading end of the strip to said drum and comprising a first gripper jaw provided on the end face of one of said spreader bars and a second gripper jaw provided on the end of the inner fiat surface of one of the segments engaged by said one spreader bar, said second gripper jaw overlying said first gripper jaw, both said gripper jaws being provided with parallel spaced faces inclined relative to the inner fiat surface of said last mentioned segment and cooperating with the latter to form a slot within which said leading end is adapted to be gripped upon operation of said actuating mechanism, while the spreader bar carrying said first gripper jaw remains in sliding contact with the segment carrying said second gripper jaw, both of said gripper jaws being each provided with complementary deforming portions adapted to deform said leading end engaged in said slot and normally out of registry, said deforming portions being moved into registry when said actuating mechanism is operated to move said spreader bars in the direction to close said slot.

4. A drum adapted to be used for coiling strip and having a plurality of externally arcuate radially movable segments provided with inner fiat surfaces, a plurality of spreader bars each provided with inclined bearing surfaces engaging said inner flat surfaces and with an end face, means for radially moving said spreader bars along radial planes inclined relative to the radial planes of movement of said segments to thereby move the latter, and means for securing the leading end of the strip to said drum, Comprising a first gripper jaw provided on the end face of one of said spreader bars and a second gripper jaw provided on the end of the inner flat surface of one of the segments engaged by said one spreader bar, said second gripper jaw overlying said first gripper jaw, both said gripper jaws being provided with parallel spaced faces inclined relative to the inner flat surface of said last mentioned segment and cooperating with the latter to form a slot within which said leading end is adapted to be gripped upon operation of said means for radially moving said spreader bars, said spreader bar carrying said first gripper jaw remaining in contact with the segment carrying said second gripping jaw during this spreading and gripping movement both of said gripper jaws being each provided with complementary deforming portions adapted to deform said leading end engaged in said slot and normally out of registry, one of said deforming portions being resiliently mounted on its corresponding gripper jaw, said deforming portions being moved into registry with said resiliently mounted deforming portion under compression when said means for radially moving said spreader bars is operated to move said spreader bars in the direction to close said slot.

5. A drum adapted to be used for coiling strip and comprising a plurality of externally arcuate radially movable segments provided with inner fiat surfaces, a plurality of spreader bars each provided with inclined bearing surfaces engaging said inner fiat surfaces and with an end face, means for radially moving said spreader bars along radial planes which are inclined relative to the radial planes of movement of said segments to thereby move the latter, and means for securing the leading end of the strip to said drum and comprising a first gripper jaw provided on the end face of one of said spreader bars and a second gripper jaw provided on the inner flat surface of one of the segments which is engaged by said one spreader bar and extending outwardly thereof so that said second gripper jaw overlies said first gripper jaw, both of said gripper jaws being provided with parallel spaced faces inclined relative to the inner flat surface of said one segment and cooperating with the latter to form a slot within which said leading end is adapted to be gripped, said spreader bar carrying said first gripper jaw remaining in sliding contact with the segment carrying said second "gripper jaw-during thisspreading and gripping movement, said second gripper jaw being provided with an elongated rib extending substantially parallel to the axis of the drum, said-first gripper jaw being provided with an elongated groove substantially parallel to the axis of the drum and complementary to said rib, both said rib and groove extending along a common radial plane when said slot is substantially closed.

6. A drum constructed in accordance with claim 5, wherein said first gripper jaw is provided with a spring loaded plunger wherein said groove is formed, said plunger being urged toward said rib.

7. A drum constructed in accordance with claim 5, .wherein said first gripper jaw consists of an elongated substantially U-shaped spring member having its arm adjacent said second gripper jaw formed with said groove.

8. A drum constructed in accordance with claim 4,

.wherein said one deforming portion is provided on said first gripper jaw and comprises a spring loaded plunger urged toward the deforming portion on said second Jgripper jaw.

9. A drum constructed in accordance with claim 4, wherein one deforming portion is provided on said first gripper jaw and comprises a spring arm adjacent said second gripper jaw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDJSTATES PATENTS 

1. IN A DRUM ADAPTED TO BE USED FOR COILING STRIP AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF EXTERNALLY ARCUATE RADIALLY MOVABLE SEGMENTS PROVIDED WITH INNER FLAT SURFACES, A PLURALITY OF SPREADER BARS EACH PROVIDED WITH INCLINED BEARING SURFACES ENGAGING SAID INNER FLAT SURFACES, AND AN ACTUATING ROD AND CAM MEMBERS FOR RADIALLY MOVING SAID SPREADER BARS ALONG RADIAL PLANES INCLINED RELATIVE TO THE RADIAL PLANES OF MOVEMENT OF SAID SEGMENTS TO THEREBY MOVE THE LATTER; MEANS FOR SECURING THE LEADING END OF THE STRIP TO SAID DRUM AND COMPRISING A FIRST GRIPPER JAW PROVIDED ON ONE OF SAID SPREADER BARS AND A SECOND GRIPPER JAW PROVIDED ON ONE OF THE SEGMENTS ENGAGED BY SAID ONE SPREADER BAR, BOTH SAID GRIPPER JAWS BEING PROVIDED WITH PARALLEL SPACED FACES INCLINED RELATIVE TO THE INNER FLAT SURFACE OF SAID LAST MENTIONED SEGMENT, SAID GRIPPER JAWS MOVING TOWARDS EACH OTHER IN A DIRECTION INCLINED TO THE FACES THEREOF WHILE MAINTAINING SAID FACES PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER WHEN SAID SEGMENTS ARE MOVED OUTWARDLY, AND COOPERATING TO FORM A SLOT WITHIN WHICH SAID LEADING END OF THE STRIP IS ADAPTED TO BE GRIPPED, SAID SPREADER BARS CONTACTING THE INNER FLAT SURFACES OF SAID SEGMENTS AT ALL TIMES DURING THE SPREADING AND GRIPPING ACTION. 